Crate

ABSTRACT

A crate includes a base and a pair of end walls that extend upward from the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the base between the pair of ends walls. A band extends along the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls. The band includes at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.

The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/464,621 which was filed on Feb. 28, 2017.

BACKGROUND Summary

In one exemplary embodiment, a crate includes a base and a pair of end walls that extend upward from the base. A pair of side walls extend upward from the base between the pair of ends walls. A band extends along the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls. The band includes at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.

In another exemplary embodiment, a crate includes a base and a pair of side walls that extend upward from the base. A pair of end walls extend upward from the base between the ends walls. A first end column extends upward from a first end edge of the base to a band. A first handle formed in the band portion above the first end column. A handling equipment contact surface in one of the pair of end walls is spaced from the band by a plurality of ribs and is located above the first handle.

In another exemplary embodiment, a crate includes a base and a first end wall that extends upward from a first end edge of the base. A pair of first end columns extend from the base to a band. A first handling equipment contact surface is on the first end wall spaced from the band by a plurality of ribs. The first handling equipment contact surface extends across an upper edge of the pair of first end columns.

Injection-molded plastic beverage crates are used to ship beverage containers, such as plastic bottles, to stores. Often, it is intended that consumers will view the bottles in the store to make their selection and then remove the desired bottles from the crate.

Many known crates includes a base, a pair of opposed end walls extending upward from the base, and a pair of opposed side walls extending upward from the base between the end walls. Each side wall includes a plurality of side columns extending upward from the base to a side band

These and other features of the disclosed examples can be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example crate.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on two identical crates.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on two identical crates.

FIG. 9 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on two identical crates.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on a second different crate.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second different crate of FIG. 10 stacked on the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on the second different crate of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the second different crate of FIG. 10 stacked on the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is an end view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on the second different crate of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is an end view of the second different crate of FIG. 10 stacked on the crate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 is a top view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on the second different crate of FIG. 10.

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the crate of FIG. 1 stacked on the second different crate of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A crate 10 according to a non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The crate 10 includes a base 12, which may include a plurality of interconnected ribs. The crate 10 further includes a pair of opposed side walls 14 extending upward from side edges of the base 12 and a pair of opposed end walls 16 extending upward from end edges of the base 12. An interior of the crate 10 is defined between the side walls 14 and the end walls 16. The side walls 14 and the end walls 16 include an upper band portion 18 and a lower wall portion 20.

A plurality of side columns 22 project upwardly from the base 12 to the upper band portion 18. Upper side column portions 23 continue upward and project inward from the upper band portion 18, aligned above the side columns 22. Corner columns 24 project upwardly from the base 12 at the intersection of the end walls 16 and the side walls 14.

End columns 26 and 28 project upwardly from the base 12. In each end wall 16, each end column 26 is aligned below a handle opening 30 in each end wall 16. A lower handle portion 32 extends from each end column 28 across the adjacent end column 26 and connects to the corner column 24. The end columns 26, 28 are tapered toward the interior of the crate 10 and include a first pair of recesses 27 on an interior distal end.

This alignment maximizes space for the user's hand. By aligning the handle opening 30 with the end column 26, the handle is aligned with the end column 26 that is positioned between the bottles. The handle openings 30 may be offset relative to one another. The handle openings 30 may be offset off the center of each end wall 16. As shown, the handle openings 30 may be offset toward opposite side walls to balance the load in the crate 10 when it is loaded and being lifted and carried by a user's two hands (one in each handle opening 30).

A contact surface 29 is located above each of the handle openings 30 and has a generally flat profile perpendicular to the base 12. The contact surface 29 extends from a first edge of the handle opening 30 adjacent the corner column 24, across and above the handle opening 30, and beyond the end column 28 toward an opposing corner column 24. The end column 28 is spaced below an upper edge of the crate 10 by the contact surface 29. The contact surface 29 is asymmetrically located in the end wall 16 and skewed towards the handle opening 30 such that the contact surface 29 is located closer to the side wall 14 adjacent the handle opening 30 than the side wall 14 spaced from the handle openings 30.

The contact surface 29 is connected to the upper band portion 18 by a plurality of ribs 31 extending from an inner side of the upper band portion 18 to an inner side of the contact surface 29. An upper surface of the handle opening 30 also extends between the upper band portion 18 and the contact surface 29. An upper edge of the contact surface 29 is also spaced below an upper edge of the upper band portion 18. The contact surface 29 facilitates compatibility with handling equipment, such as a flight bar or steel hook, and an angled top surface on the end column 28 further allows the handling equipment to clear the end column 28.

As is known, the crates 10 are injection molded as a single piece of a suitable plastic, such as polypropylene, polyethylene or other suitable material.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the crate 10. As shown, the base 12 includes a plurality of bottle-receiving recesses 38 for receiving the cap of a bottle on which the crate 10 is stacked. Each bottle-receiving recess 38 is completely circumscribed by a capture rib 40. In this embodiment, the bottle-receiving recesses 38 are arranged in three rows (i.e. with three bottle-receiving recesses 38 aligned adjacent each end wall 16, but the advantages of the disclosure would be useful for any odd number of rows). In this embodiment, the bottle-receiving recesses 38 are arranged in a 3×4 array on the underside of the base 12. Each capture rib 40 captures a bottle cap of a bottle on which the crate 10 is stacked. Obviously, the capture rib 40 does not need to be completely continuous, as small breaks in the capture rib 40 would not affect its function. In the disclosed crate 10, the capture rib 40 is able to include portions at the periphery of the crate 10 because of the minimal footprint of the crate 10 relative to the bottles themselves. The capture rib 40 does not have breaks along the periphery of the base 12 that are larger than the caps of the bottles to be received.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the crate 10. As shown, the handle openings 30 are positioned at the outer periphery of the footprint of the crate 10. As is also shown in FIG. 3 (which is to scale), the ratio of the length (end to end) of the footprint of the crate 10 relative to the width (side to side) is the same as the bottle ratio, in this example, 4×3. Other ratios could also be used (such as 5×3), but the benefit is primarily for an odd number of bottles along the end walls 16. Again, one handle opening 30 is offset toward one side wall 14 while the other handle opening 30 is offset toward the opposite side wall 14.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the crate 10. Again, the base 12 includes the bottle-receiving recess 38 which may be each completely circumscribed by one of the capture ribs 40.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the crate 10. Upper and lower edges 18A, 18B of the upper band portion 18 are a constant distance from the base 12 along the end walls 16. The upper edge 18A includes a chamfer directed towards an interior of the crate 10 that facilitates reading bar codes on bottles loaded in the crate 10.

Each handle opening 30 includes an opening defined between the lower handle portion 32 and an upper handle portion 33. The handle opening 30 is aligned the end column 26. The upper handle portion 33 includes a concave lower surface for increased user comfort and extends between the upper band portion 18 and the contact surface 29 (FIG. 1). The lower handle portion 32 includes a convex upper surface that follows the same contour as the concave lower surface on the upper handle portion 33.

The upper band portion 18 of the end wall 16 includes multiple complete circular indentations 34A and multiple partial circular indentations 34B. The complete circular indentations 34A are spaced inward from the upper edge 18A and lower edge 18B of the upper band portion 18. The partial circular indentations 34B intersect the upper or lower edges 18A, 18B such that the partial circular indentations 34B are truncated by the upper or lower edges 18A, 18B. Although the complete and partial circular indentations 34A, 34B are shown as indentations in the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the complete and partial circular indentations 34A, 34B could be other shapes or flush indictors with an exterior surface of the upper band portion 18. The flush indicators could be used entirely or partially in place of the complete and partial circular indentations 34A, 34B.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the crate 10. The upper and lower edges 18A, 18B of the upper band portion 18 are also a constant distance from the base 12 along the side walls 14. The upper band portion 18 includes a recessed portion 19 for accepting a sticker (not shown). The recessed portion 19 prevents the sticker from being scraped off during use of the crate 10. The upper band portion 18 of the side walls 14 also includes multiple complete circular indentations 34A and partial circular indentations 34B. In the illustrated embodiment, the side walls 14 include a greater number of the complete and partial circular indentations 34A, 34B than the ends walls 16.

In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the upper band portion 18 is 3.25″ tall from the upper edge 18A to the lower edge 18B. This provides an increased contact surface on the sides of the crate 10 for grasping with equipment (such as the Tygard Claw). The large upper band portion 18 reduces the height of the lower wall portion 20. The taper on the lower wall portion 20 (due to mold constraints) causes the base 12 to get smaller as the lower wall portion 20 gets taller. Therefore, the large upper band portion 18 and the relatively short lower wall portion 20 further contribute to the full bottle cap capture on the base 12.

FIG. 7 shows the crate 10 nested with a pair of identical crates 10. The lower wall portion 20 of the upper crate 10 is received between the upper band portion 18 of the middle crate 10 and the lower wall portion 20 of the middle crate 10 is received between the upper band portion 18 of the lowest crate 10. This reduces the overall stacking height of the empty crates 10.

The partial circular indentations 34A of the upper crate 10 along the lower edge 18B of the upper band portion 18 align with the partial circular indentations 34A along the upper edge 18A of the upper band portion 18 on the middle crate 10. The alignment of the partial circular indentations 34A between adjacent stacked crates 10 creates the appearance of a complete circular indentation or indicator extending between adjacent stacked crates 10. The alignment of the partial circular indentations 34A also provides an indicator to the user that the stacked crates 10 are similar or identical. FIG. 8 is a side view of the crates 10 of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is an end view of the crates 10 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7-9, the lower wall portion 20 of the upper crate 10 nests completely within the upper band portion 18 of the lower crate 10.

FIG. 10 illustrates the crate 10 stacked on a 1 L half depth crate 100. The crate 100 includes a base 112, which may include a plurality of interconnected ribs. The crate 100 further includes a pair of opposed side walls 114 extending upward from side edges of the base 112 and a pair of opposed end walls 116 extending upward from end edges of the base 112. The crate interior is defined between the side walls 114 and end walls 116. An upper perimeter of the crate interior is surrounded by an upper ledge 118 that extends along an uppermost surface of the side walls 114 and end walls 116 as shown in FIG. 11. When the crate 10 is nested on the crate 100 as shown in FIGS. 10, 12, and 14, the lower edge 18B of the upper band portion 18 rests on the upper ledge 118 of the crate 100 and the lower wall portion 20 is accepted within the crate interior of the crate 100. The ability of the crate 10 to nest within the crate 100 increases the nesting efficiency of the crates 10 and 100 as well as increasing pack out of a transportation vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 15, the crate 100 is also able to stack on the crate 10 when the crate 10 is empty. The crate 100 includes a lower wall ledge 120 spaced inward from a perimeter of the side walls 114 and end walls 116. The lower wall ledge 120 is also located adjacent the base 112. The lower wall ledge 120 rests on the upper edge 18A of the upper band portion 18 of the crate 10 when the crate 100 is stacked thereon.

FIG. 16 illustrates a top view of the crate 10 stacked on top of the crate 100 and FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom view of the crate 10 stacked on top of the crate 100. As shown in FIGS. 16-17, the bottle-receiving recesses on the crate 10 substantially overlap with bottle receiving portions 138 on the crate 100. This overlap increases the stacking compatibility of the crate 10 with the crate 100 when loaded with bottles. Therefore, the base 12 of the crate 10 is large enough to accept all caps of bottles stacked in the lower crate 10, 100 even though the lower wall portion 20 tapers inward and partially reduces the area of the base 12.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A crate comprising: a base; a pair of end walls extending upward from the base; a pair of side walls extending upward from the base between the pair of ends walls; and a band extending along the pair of end walls and the pair of side walls, the band includes at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.
 2. The crate of claim 1, wherein the at least one first partial geometric shape aligns with the at least one second partial geometric shape to form at least one complete geometric shape when the crate is nested with an identical crate.
 3. The crate of claim 2, wherein the at least one complete geometric shape is circular.
 4. The crate of claim 2, wherein the band includes a plurality of geometric shapes spaced from the top edge and the bottom edge having varying diameters.
 5. The crate of claim 1, further including a first end column extending upward from a first end edge of the base to the band and a first handle formed in the band portion above the first end column.
 6. The crate of claim 5, further including a second end column extending upward from a second end edge of the base to the band, and a second handle formed in the band portion above the second end column.
 7. The crate of claim 6, wherein the first handle is located closer to a first side wall than a second sidewall and the second handle is located closer to the second side wall than the first side wall.
 8. The crate of claim 6, further including a first pair of recessed on an interior distal end of the first end column and a second pair of recessed on an interior distal end of the second end column.
 9. The crate of claim 6, wherein a handling equipment contact surface in one of the pair of end walls spaced from the band by a plurality of ribs and located above the first handle.
 10. A crate comprising: a base; a pair of side walls extending upward from the base; a pair of end walls extending upward from the base between the ends walls; a first end column extending upward from a first end edge of the base to a band; a first handle formed in the band portion above the first end column; and a handling equipment contact surface in one of the pair of end walls spaced from the band by a plurality of ribs and located above the first handle.
 11. The crate of claim 10, further including at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band.
 12. The crate of claim 11, wherein the at least one first partial geometric shape aligns with the at least one second partial geometric shape to form at least one complete geometric shape when the crate is nested with an identical crate.
 13. The crate of claim 12, wherein the at least one complete geometric shape is circular.
 14. The crate of claim 12, wherein the band includes a plurality of geometric shapes spaced from the top edge and the bottom edge having varying diameters.
 15. The crate of claim 11, further including a second end column extending upward from a second end edge of the base to the band, and a second handle formed in the band portion above the second end column.
 16. The crate of claim 15, wherein the first handle is located closer to a first side wall than a second sidewall and the second handle is located closer to the second side wall than the first side wall.
 17. A crate comprising: a base; a first end wall extending upward from a first end edge of the base including a pair of first end columns extending from the base to a band; and a first handling equipment contact surface on the first end wall spaced from the band by a plurality of ribs, wherein the first handling equipment contact surface extends across an upper edge of the pair of first end columns.
 18. The crate of claim 17, further including a second end wall extending upward from a second end edge of the base including a pair of second end columns extending from the base to the band and a second handling equipment contact surface on the second end wall spaced from the band by a second plurality of ribs, wherein the second handling equipment contact surface extends across an upper edge of the pair of second columns.
 19. The crate of claim 18, further including a first handle formed in the band portion above only one of the pair of the first end columns and below the first handling equipment contact surface and a second handle formed in the band portion above only one of the pair of second end columns and below the second handling equipment contact surface.
 20. The crate of claim 17, further including at least one first partial geometric shape formed in the band adjacent a top edge of the band aligned with at least one second partial geometric shape located adjacent a bottom edge of the band, wherein the at least one first partial geometric shape aligns with the at least one second partial geometric shape to form at least one complete geometric shape when the crate is nested with an identical crate. 